BMW X5: Safest in its Class

BMW X5 is the first-ever large 4x4 to win the five star award in the
Euro NCAP crash test The BMW X5 Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) has
received the five-star award in the Euro NCAP (New Car Assessment
Programme) crash test underlining its position again as one of the
safest vehicles on the road. Strictly regulated by European
governments, consumer protection organizations and automobile clubs,
Euro NCAP is recognised as the toughest crash tests in the automotive
industry. The Euro NCAP consortium certified the X5 with very low risk
of injury for all occupants in all tested crash scenarios. The Euro
NCAP test is comprised of three individual tests; frontal, side and
pole impact. In the frontal crash test, one of the most difficult of
all crash tests, the BMW X5 scored 13 out of 16 points, while it won
all of the 18 points in both the side and pole crash tests. The five
stars achieved in the Euro NCAP crash test confirm the high level of
passive safety the BMW X5 demonstrated in earlier crash tests. For
example, in the test performed by the United States Insurance Institute
for Highway Safety (IIHS), the X5 scored the best result ever achieved
by any vehicle up to that time. Robert Bailey-McEwan, Managing
Director of BMW Group Middle East, said: "Our BMW X5 has been
setting new motoring standards since its launch in 1999 and has won
numerous safety awards. It is one of the safest vehicles on the road
combining the sporty and comfortable attributes of a typical BMW saloon
with exceptional off-road features." The fact that the BMW X5
offers such exemplary protection to its occupants in a crash is not a
matter of course in the large off-roader segment. The design of many
Sports Utility Vehicles (SUV) limits the energy absorption in case of a
collision due to the conventional separate chassis construction. On the
other hand, the BMW Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) is based on the
self-supporting lightweight body usually used for saloon cars, and
therefore, can absorb considerably more crash energy than a vehicle
with a separate chassis. In addition to the high design safety
features, the X5 offers passengers a maximum level of passive safety;
fitted with up to 10 airbags, including two-stage frontal airbags and
ITS head airbag, automatic-reel three-point safety belts on all seats,
belt tensioners and belt force limiters, belt wear and seat occupancy
detection as well as ISOFIX child seat mountings. In order to avoid
accidents, BMW development engineers have also invested a maximum
amount of effort in the active safety systems. The superior
suspension, the low vehicle centre of gravity and an ideal axle load
distribution are complemented by Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), the
electronic stability management system. ABS, CBC (Cornering Brake
Control), and DBC (Dynamic Brake Control) assist the excellent brake
system of the X5 in critical situations. In addition, to ensure
superior safety beyond paved roads, the DSC system has been supplemented
by two further functions: the automatic ADB-X differential brake and
Hill Descent Control, (HDC) the intelligent downhill drive control
system. - Ends -